Building-block.



No. 767,494. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.-

J. A. NOBLE.

BUILDING BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.15,1903.

N0 MODEL UNITED STATES Patented August 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

BUILDING-BLOCK- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.767,494, dated August 16, 1904. Application fi December 15,1903. SerialNo. 185,278- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSIAII A. NOBLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fostoria, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Building-Blocks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates pt "ticularly to building-blocks used in wallconstruction, and has for its object to provide an improved block of thekind stated characterized particularly by an improved arrangement andconstruction of air-cells and recesses therein. These cells pass onlypartly through the block, leaving a continuous top or bottom to receiveand support the mortar used in binding the blocks together. Theair-cells insure dryness in the wall and lightness in the block withoutimpairing the strength of the wall and without producing the weakenedjoints incident to hollow blocks in which the openings pass all the waythrough vertically, which gives very little binding surface for themortar. The block shown and described herein is suitable for all uses ofwall construction, foundations, and abutmcnts.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of theblock, showing the bottom thereof. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partlyin longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a portionof a wall, with a doorway. constructed of the blocks.

The blocks are made of plastic material, such as concrete or cement, andare preferably made rectangular. The face thereof may be plain orornamental and the preferable symmetrical construction makes themreversible, so that they may be placed in the wall with the cells up ordown. Preferably the cells are placed to open down, and in thedescription the face through which the cells open is called the bottom."

Referring specifically to the drawings, the block is indicated at 6 andthe cells therein at 7 These cells are preferably octagonal or circularin shape and are disposed in two parallel rows, as clearly shown in Fig.1, producing a continuous wall 8, extending lengthwise therelgetween.The cells of the respective rows are staggered or placed in zigzagrelation to each other, which is believed to produce a strongerconstruction than if they were placed at right angles to each other. Thedouble row of cells enables the block to be made wide enough so that onethickness will do for an ordinary wall, as shown in Fig. 3. The top 9 ofthe block isflat and continuous, inasmuch as the cells 7' do not extendall the way through. In both ends of th block are recesses 10, whichextend from the bottom of the block nearly to the top thereof and areuseful for various purposes. They admit of slight tooling to cut awaythe remaining portion 11 ,to receive door or window casing, cleat, or.strip, as indicated at 12, which is thus sunk into the ends of theblocks when the same are used in wall construction, forming with mortara practical air-tightjoint. The recesses also form places for handholdsin lifting and setting the blocks. Also when set up in the wall themortar placed between the ends of the blocks engages behind the sideedges of the recess, forming an effective end bond.

ln use in building the mortar is convenicntly and easily spread ontheplain top surface of the blocks, and they may be' laid by any ordinarystone or brick mason. When the following course is placed on the lowercourse, the mortar on the top of the blocks presses up into the cells,making the same air-tight and also forming a substantial bond,preventing movement of the blocks upon each other and forming a wall of.great strength and solidity without the assistance of any metal or otherbinding device. In this respect it is especially serviceable forabutments, retaining-walls, and decks. The cells become air and Watertight anrl a dry, light, and cheap construction 15 produced.

What I claim as new, and (lGSllO to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A building-block having a fiat continuous top the full size of thebl0ck,-a series of cells in the bottom arranged in two parallel rows andzigzag relation to each other, and a recess in each end of the block,open at the hotl tom and having thin walls at top and side, re.- 10movable to receive a frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two sub-

